Spool chain for axminster looms



Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,159

. w. w. ROBERTSON SPOOL CHAIN FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 27. 1923 Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

WILLIAM W. ROBERTSON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON & KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SPOOL CHAIN FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS.

Application filed December 27, 1923. Serial No. 683,045.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM W. ROBERT? soN, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at WVorcester, in the. county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Spool Chain for Axminster Looms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tube frames and 1 their transporting chains as found in Axminster looms and more particularly to an improved construction of the chainwhereby the weight of the tube frame is transferred to the chain in an eflicientmanner.

In a type of tube frame for Axminster looms which has gone into extensive use the attaching means for the frame comprises a leaf spring the free end of' which is formed with a hook arranged to cooperate with one of the links of the chain. As ordinarily constructed the portion of the link which cooperates with the spring is concave and the spring contacts with such a surface at but one or two points. If the chain be horizontal and the tubeframes de pending from it, each side of the spring will contact with the concave surface. If the chain is vertical so that the spring is inclined then the latter has contact with the chain at the upper part thereof only, the lower part of the spring being spaced from the link, and the result of such a construction is to throw the strain of supporting the tube frame all on one side of the spring with a tendency to loosen and twist the latter in the tube frame. Also, it is found that the tempered spring wears grooves in the chain links because of their sharp edges and this in time interferes with the proper 4 supporting of the tube frame.

To overcome these objections I have provided a chain the spring engaging link of @which shall have a convex face so formed as to be in contact with the spring at substantially the mid-point thereof, the convex portion of the link holding the side or edge portions of the spring away from the chain so that the faults already enumerated are obviated.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient form of my invention is shown, 1 I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pull over sprocket and a portion of the associated cha n showing the tube frame in various posltions, I

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line'22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a tube frame m an oblique position with part of the structure removed, showing the relation of the spring hook and its chain link, and

Fig. 4 is a detailed View showing one of the links forming the'subject matter of my lnvention.

The tube frames and bracket which I employ are substantially the same, as have gone into very extensive use, the tube frame being formed of a longitudinal member 10 to which is secured a bracket 11 having an offset chain engaging portion 12 designed to enter between the double links of the chain, as usual. The yarn tubes 13 may be of ordinary construction and there is attached to the bracket 11 a leaf spring 14 the upper end of which is hook shaped as at 15 and so arranged as to engage the inner member of each pair of double links.

The sprocket 16 is arranged to drive the chain 17 which is composed of single links 18 and double links formed of the members 19 and 20. The link 19 is of the usual construction being slightly concave on the side. portions between the rivets 21.

My invention resides in the construction of links 20 and it will be seen by referring to Fig. 4 that the under face thereof is concave as shown at 22 and is also chamfered off as shown at 23 to facilitate entry of the chain engaging offset 12. The upper face of the link is made substantially convex and as shown in the drawing may comprise three faces 24, 25, and 26, face 25 being substantially parallel to a line joining the holes 27 which receive the rivets 21 while the faces 24 and 26 are slightly inclined.

When the tube frame is in the position shown at the bottom of Fig. 1 and is hanging downward in a vertical direction the hooked part 15 of the spring will be in contact with face 25 and the side portions 28 of the hook will be held away from the in clined faces 24 and 26. When the tube frame is in an oblique position as shown in Fig. 3 the chain engaging surface of the hook, which is a straight line surface and substantially cylindrical, is in contact with face 9A: sothat side 28 of the-spring receives no more pressure than those portions of the spring intermediate the sides 28. I

By means of the construction set forth herein it is possible to transfer the. weight of.

the tube frame to the chain through a substantial line of'contact, between the chain link: and the spring hook rather than through a single point as has been thepractice heretofore. Because of this construction the spring hooks are subject to less twisting and bending, Withless consequent loosening and breaking, and also the chain link is not subjected to the wear which hasheretofore resulted from the rubbing of the sides 28- of thetempered spring against theconcave face of the chain link.

Having described one form of my invention it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art and I'donot Wish to be limited to the specific structure illustrated, but what I do claim is:

1. Inan A-xminster loom, a transporting chain having links, a tube frame supporting hook and contact surfaces formed on said chain links and said supporting member, one of said faces being convex with respect to the other.

2. In an Axminster loom,. a transporting chain formed of'links, a tube frame, a supportingmember thereon, and surfaces on a link of said chain contacting with surfaces on said supporting member, one of said surfaces being convex with respect to the other.

3. In an Axminster loom, a tube frame transporting chain, a tube frame, and a hook member secured to said tube frame and having contact with the associated link of said chain, said chain link having a convex portion to engage said hook member.

4. In an Axminster loom, a. tube frame transporting chain, a tube frame, and a supporting hook secured to. said tube frame and having a substantially straight line'surface, the links of said transporting chainhaving convex portions to engage the straight line portions of said hook.

5. In an Axminster loom,..a ,tube frame transporting chain, a tube frame, a supporting hook secured to said tube frame andar ranged for engagement with saidychain, and means formed on the associated link of said transporting chain-toengageisaid hook in substantial line contact over a portion only of the width of said hook and in different angular relations of said hook and link.

6. In an Axminster loom, a tube frame transporting chain, a tube frame, a tube frame supporting hook secured thereto, said hook having side edge portions and said chain having links formed with. portions effective to engage said hook intermediate the side portions thereof and spacedfrom the edges thereofwhen the axis of the hook is positioned normal to the axis of the link;

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto affixed my signature.

WILLIAM w. ROBERTSON. 

